Haida remained unemployed, showing little inclination to seek work. This disinclination stirred a quiet unease within Retsuko.

Unemployed, homeless, and without a romantic partner, Haida sought refuge in a dimly lit internet cafe. There, in a moment of profound embarrassment, he unexpectedly encountered an online friend in the physical world.

Beneath the guise of the avatar "Fennelope," Fenneko forged friendships with Haida and Shikabane within the virtual world of the online game, eventually arranging a meeting with them in person.

In two weeks, Haida must travel to meet Retsuko’s parents. The prospect weighs on him: he will have to inform them of his unemployment, a conversation made all the more difficult by the urgency of finding work beforehand.

Following the OTM Girls' performance, a man with a distinctly wary air approached Manaka, inquiring about "Aggressive Retsuko." Meanwhile, Haida found Tadano.

Haida offered that she need not accompany him, but Retsuko was insistent on joining him in a visit to his family home—a place that proved strikingly different from her expectations.

Retsuko found herself approached by a man whose demeanor was unsettling, yet his features held a disconcerting familiarity. He pressed upon her with an insistent fervor, urging her to consider a candidacy for public office.

The following morning, the lingering effects of her performance with Ikari weighed heavily on Retsuko. Stress and regret clung to her like a shroud. The only remedy seemed a prolonged and unrestrained karaoke session.

The path to public office demands more than just ambition; it requires both resilience and considerable financial resources. Prospective candidates must quickly secure a substantial initial deposit of three million yen.

The weight of expectation threatened to overwhelm her, yet a brief exchange with Ton steadied Retsuko. She then adjusted the microphone and addressed her prospective voters.